Another nor'easter could be heading toward state

Staff reports

Updated 12:35 pm, Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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Another nor'easter could be heading toward state

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While it's too early for any definitive forecast, meteorologists say another nor'easter could strike Connecticut, and the rest of the Eastern seaboard, by the middle of next week, just in time for Thanksgiving.

The storm would be the third to hit the state in a month, coming after Superstorm Sandy and last week's nor'easter that dropped a surprising amount of snow over the state. Forecasters say this storm won't be as windy as Sandy, and won't be as cold as last week's storm, but could still bring heavy rain (and possibly snow) along with coastal flooding.

"By Wednesday, low pressure off of the southern New England coast is trapped beneath a high pressure system. The result is a storm that literally hangs around the area all of next week," WTNH Storm Team 8 meteorologist Quincy Vagell said in a post on WXEdge.com. "Depending on where the storm tracks, we could see snow, a wintry mix or even rain. With that said, wind and coastal flooding is looking more certain at this point."

Vagell said the storm could be a "long-duration event."

His forecasting is based on the Euro model, which was most accurated in predicting the previous two major storms.

"Although northeasterly winds are usually associated with nor'easters (hence the name), the winds may start off closer to east or east-northeast," Vagell said. "This could potentially funnel more water into Long Island Sound, as well as the Jersey Shore and New York City, spelling residual flooding effects."

Accuweather.com senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said rain and breezy conditions could develop over the Carolinas and Virginia on Sunday, with rain and wind picking up and continuing to spread northward through the middle of the week.

"At least during the early stages, the storm should not be as intense as last week's nor'easter," Sosnowski said in an article on the weather website. "However, it may get stronger during the middle of the week, at which point it could wobble into eastern New England or get kicked out to sea."

The state's coastline areas, already hit hard by Sandy and last week's nor'easter, could see flooding once again.

"Since the storm will be hovering along the coast or just offshore for days, it will kick up seas and near-coast wave action," Sosnowski said. "Such a storm would raise the risk of beach erosion and minor coastal flooding at times of high tide. Depending on the angle of the wind relative to the shoreline, there is the potential for water levels to rise to between 1 and 3 feet above normal tides."